X-MEN RED Has 'a Very Big Story to Tell,' Starting with CASSANDRA NOVA

It’s been several months since Jean Grey returned from the dead, and she’s got her greatest challenges ahead of her with growing anti-mutant sentiment setting the stage for what X-Men Red writer Tom Taylor promises could be the series’ very own “extermination.”

Since launching X-Men Red with artist Mahmud Asrar back in February, Taylor has brought back Cassandra Nova, sent the X-Men under the sea, and according to the writer himself, he’s just getting started.

Newsarama spoke with Taylor ahead of the release of X-Men Red #6 this week to discuss the threats that may follow the X-Men into the ocean as they retreat to their Atlantis-adjacent base, the anti-mutant sentiment that is brewing in the Marvel Universe, incoming artist Carmen Carnero, and even the very future of the title.

Newsarama: Tom, these next few issues of X-Men Red take place in and around Atlantis. What led to the decision to make the undersea city the X-Men’s latest locale?

Tom Taylor: Their new home is a sunken city away from Atlantis - a reminder of mighty civilizations being nothing in the face of the seas and of time. But having Atlantis as a supporter of Jean's vision just felt right, particularly given their king is a mutant. Jean needs nations on her side for her vision to come true. Also, I do tend to think of the ocean quite a bit - as the co-creator and exec producer of the Netflix TV show The Deep I spend a lot of time writing and researching the underwater world.

Credit: Carmen Carnero/Rain Beredo/Cory Petit (Marvel Comics)

Credit: Carmen Carnero/Rain Beredo/Cory Petit (Marvel Comics)

Nrama: Jean’s team has been together for a little while now. How have they adjusted to being X-Men?

Taylor: With everything they've been hit with, I don't think they've really had time to think about being X-Men. The entire world needs them and they've simply had to step up.

Nrama: X-Men Red #6 marks the beginning of Carmen Carnero's run on the book. What would you say to Mahmud Asrar's run from #1 to #5?

Taylor: No. I'm very sorry to lose Mahmud from this series, and I'm very proud of the stories we've told together, but he has a big adventure ahead of him. Once it's announced, I think everyone will understand. As soon I heard what he was working on, I completely got it. I'll be one of the first people picking it up.

Credit: Carmen Carnero/Rain Beredo/Cory Petit (Marvel Comics)

Credit: Carmen Carnero/Rain Beredo/Cory Petit (Marvel Comics)

Nrama: Artist Carmen Carnero is taking over with this week's X-Men Red #6. What makes Carmen the right artist to join the X-Men Red team?

Taylor: Just look at her art. Look at it!. Carmen is just fantastic. Her body language. Her characterization. Every page I receive in my inbox makes me happy. Carmen hasn't missed a beat coming onto this book, and I feel very lucky to have her join our team. The same can be said of our new cover artist Jenny Frison.

Nrama: Solicitations for future issues of X-Men Red mention a growing surge of hatred for mutants in the Marvel Universe. What’s driving that renewed disdain for mutantkind?

Taylor: A mixture of sentinels inside people's brains, manipulation of people's fears via social media and mass media, world leaders being hijacked and, at the top of it all, Cassandra Nova.

Nrama: The X-Men event Extermination is on the horizon. Is that going to touch X-Men Red?

Credit: Carmen Carnero/Rain Beredo/Cory Petit (Marvel Comics)

Taylor: Not in the story we're telling now. But I'm not promising we won't have our own exterminations here. I have a pretty bad history when it comes to keeping characters alive.

Nrama: Speaking of which, X-Men Blue and X-Men Gold are both coming to an end. Will your “color” book be sticking around?

Taylor: We will. I can't guarantee it will go forever, but we still have a very big story to tell. We're having too good a time to call it a day any time soon, and we want to thank all of the fans who have embraced what we're doing in